Medical Laboratory Technician
Salary

An average Medical Laboratory Technician in the United States can expect to take home roughly $18.29 per hour. Pay generally varies between $13.77 per hour and $23.62. Earnings for this group are mostly affected by geography, followed by years of experience and the particular employer. Medical benefits are awarded to a fair number, and the greater part earn dental coverage. Most Medical Laboratory Technicians survey respondents are women (77 percent). The majority of workers are highly satisfied with their job. This snapshot results from replies to PayScale's salary survey.

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

XTotal Pay combines base annual salary or hourly wage, bonuses, profit sharing, tips, commissions, overtime pay and other forms of cash earnings, as applicable for this job. It does not include equity (stock) compensation, cash value of retirement benefits, or the value of other non-cash benefits (e.g. healthcare).

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Job Description for Medical Laboratory Technician

Medical laboratory technicians perform standard medical lab tests such as blood tests, immunoassays, and cultures. They must be able to work independently to take lab tests and interpret patient results. They also must work with other health care professionals, such as doctors and nurses, to solve medical problems. Additionally, they are responsible for phlebotomy work, which includes the collection and preparation of patient samples, such as blood, urine, or stool. They must observe patient confidentiality protocols, as they are often working with sensitive personal information.

Outside of patient responsibilities, these technicians are also responsible for ensuring the equipment inside the lab works properly by periodically calibrating and testing it. They are also expected to know how to troubleshoot problematic equipment, evaluate new laboratory methods and equipment, and train new assistants and technicians on current operations.

Candidates for medical laboratory technician positions must be able to function in a stressful environment, be prepared to take on shifts at any time of the day or night, and be prepared to work periodic overtime. Flexibility with hours is particularly important at facilities staffed around the clock, such as hospitals. In addition, the candidate must be physically able to remain on their feet for most of the day, and be prepared to lift and carry lab samples or equipment from one location to another. They must also have good interpersonal skills, as they must interact with patients and their families on a day-to-day basis. It is also helpful to have strong leadership skills, as technicians will most likely supervise laboratory assistants and must be comfortable with delegating tasks and organizing work low.

In most laboratories, an associate's degree is necessary, most preferably in clinical laboratory technology (CLT) or a medical laboratory technology (MLT) program. In addition, candidates must either have, or be willing to obtain, national accreditation. Two appropriate certification options include the American Society of Clinical Pathologists (ASCP) or the National Agency for Laboratory Personnel (NCA). As for experience, the minimum is one to two years in a related field, and three to five years in microbiology or a similar field is preferred.

Common Career Paths for Medical Laboratory Technician

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Medical Laboratory Technicians who transition into a Clinical Laboratory Scientist role may receive large pay increases as the latter position pays an average $59K per year. More often than not, a Clinical Laboratory Technician role is the next step for Medical Laboratory Technicians moving up in the field. Pay for Clinical Laboratory Technicians is usually $35K. Many Medical Laboratory Technicians choose to take on a Clinical Laboratory Technologist role instead, where salaries are typically $47K.

Medical / Clinical Laboratory Technician Job Listings

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Popular Employer Salaries for Medical Laboratory Technician

Idexx Laboratories, Inc. offers the largest salaries in town — $44K on average.

Offering a median salary of only $38K, Quest Diagnostics gives out the smallest paychecks. Furthermore, the earnings range of $25K to $55K isn't that wide, either.

Popular Skills for Medical Laboratory Technician

This chart shows the most popular skills for this job and what effect each skill has on pay.

Overall, survey participants reported applying a fair number of skills to their work. Most notably, skills in Microbiology, blood bank, Generalist Duties, and Quality Assurance / Quality Control are correlated to pay that is above average. Most people who know Generalist Duties also know Phlebotomy.

Pay by Experience Level for Medical Laboratory Technician

Median of all compensation (including tips, bonus, and overtime) by years of experience.

Experience does not seem to be a strong driver of pay increase in this role. Salaries for the relatively untried average out to around $35K, but survey participants with five to 10 years of experience earn a significantly higher median of $39K. Medical Laboratory Technicians claiming one to two decades of experience make an estimated median of $42K. Survey participants who have spent more than 20 years on the job report a predictably higher median income of $46K, demonstrating that compensation is roughly commensurate with experience in the end.

Pay Difference by Location

Minneapolis is home to an above-average pay rate for Medical Laboratory Technicians, 12 percent higher than the national average. Medical Laboratory Technicians will also find cushy salaries in Atlanta (+8 percent), Columbus (+8 percent), Chicago (+6 percent), and Nashville (+5 percent). Location is a huge contributor to overall pay, with Medical Laboratory Technicians in Ocala earning a whopping 26 percent below the national average. Below-median salaries also turn up in Birmingham and Houston (6 percent lower and 4 percent lower, respectively).